Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert got one Brown -- new head coach Mike Brown -- added to the payroll in recent days. Will he have another to add in the coming weeks?

Larry Brown has told two league sources that he plans to take the Cavaliers' offer to become their next team president. According to the sources, who spoke to ESPN.com on Monday evening, Brown said he would accept the position after the Pistons' season is over.

Larry Brown has refused to discuss the Cavs' offer publicly with reporters.Brown is still under contract to Detroit, which trails the Miami Heat 2-1 in the Eastern Conference finals, and sources say he will continue to maintain publicly that he won't decide his future with the Pistons until 72 hours after their season is over. Given that timetable, pressing medical issues, his history of unpredictable decisions, and the fact he can't formally sign a contract with the Cavs until he resigns from his job with the Pistons, Brown's future in the NBA won't be certain until he attends a news conference for the Cavaliers to formally announce his hiring.

ESPN.com talked to a Cavs source who refused to confirm or deny whether Brown had given them an answer.

Reached earlier Monday by The Associated Press as he watched a movie with his daughter, Brown refused comment other than to say: "If I'm healthy, my goal is to be the coach of the Detroit Pistons. That's the only thing that's really real."

In recent days, Brown has said repeatedly that he intends to check into a hospital after the season is over because of a serious medical condition. The condition has developed as a result of midseason hip surgery he underwent, and Brown wants a medical evaluation. However, sources maintain that while Brown's medical condition might keep him from coaching again, they do not believe it is serious enough to keep him from working as a team president.

Still, the sources claim that Cavaliers ownership pushed Brown to give them an answer this weekend before they lost out on other top candidates for the job. After hearing Larry Brown's answer, events leading to Mike Brown's hire were set in motion.

Pacers senior vice president David Morway, who had been the frontrunner to get the Cavaliers' GM position before Cleveland began flirting with Brown, had given ownership until Monday evening to make a decision before he had to withdraw from consideration. On Monday, Morway found out that the Cavs were going in another direction.

"I'm in a great situation in Indiana working for Donnie Walsh and Larry Bird, and have no desire to leave unless an unbelievable opportunity came along," Morway told ESPN.com. "When I first interviewed, I was told that the general manager position would have full authority over basketball-related decisions and report directly to ownership.

"However, over the course of the last week, they indicated that they were exploring hiring a high-profile team president that would have full control of all basketball decisions. After talking with ownership, it appears that's the direction they are going and as a result, I am no longer a candidate for the GM position.

"I appreciate the interest they showed in me and wish them the best of luck in the future."

Morway refused to confirm or deny that Brown was being targeted for hire by the Cavs.

Signs, however, are everywhere that Brown is coming aboard. Newly hired head coach Mike Brown is the prot?g? of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, a close friend and confidant of Larry Brown.

Mike Brown also has reportedly contacted Randy Ayers, a former Larry Brown assistant and former coach of the Sixers, about an assistant coach's position.

The Cavs also recently interviewed Wizards director of player personnel Milt Newton for the vacant GM position. Newton played for Brown at Kansas and is another close friend who might be targeted to take over the day-to-day operations of the Cavs.

Chad Ford covers the NBA for ESPN Insider.

This is really poor timing.

_________________"If he isn't the best football player, the best runner, that the Lord has ever made, then the Lord has yet to make one." Wayne Fontes on Barry.

May 31st, 2005, 8:31 am

conversion02

RIP Killer

Joined: January 26th, 2005, 9:34 pmPosts: 10863Location: Sycamore, IL

With his health problems, he should retire from coaching and not look back. But to take a team President's job with a team in the same division? That's just shady. Granted, he's not coaching, but at least go to the spurs, sonics, nuggets, celtics...but stay away from the Central division of the Eastern Conference.

I agree, the timing is absolutely terrible. Way to give the Pistons hope for next year, Larry.

BTW, LB is scheduled to be on the Stoney and Wojo Show on 1130 AM WDFN at 4:35 today (5/31).

Last edited by conversion02 on May 31st, 2005, 10:32 am, edited 2 times in total.

May 31st, 2005, 8:39 am

theAlphaMale

Site Admin

Joined: August 6th, 2004, 1:25 amPosts: 4920Location: Hills of Auburn

Hope for next year? I am worried about this year still

If this is true and Brown does this it shouldn't be a surprise. It is his way and I know people from Philly hated him for leaving. It's funny now that the shoe may be on the other foot because I can understand resenting him for what he is doing. My problem though is more that this is going on during the run. If it happened after the season that would be one thing but right now it's like Rock Financial is trying to wreck our season by distracting LB.

Are there tampering rules like in the NFL? If so this cleary has to be a violation of them.

If this is the way he plans of going out fine but his legacy in Detroit will be Chuck > Larry.

Also...I think he would be a crappy president...the guys a coachs coach but I know in Philly he orchestrated some terrible moves.

_________________Regards, Alpha|Lionbacker.com \(^o^)/"I date this girl for two years and then the nagging starts: I wanna know your name..." - Mike Binder

May 31st, 2005, 10:29 am

Harrington is da man

Millen Draft Pick - Epic Bust

Joined: February 27th, 2005, 8:56 pmPosts: 701Location: Michigan

Actually I really don't mind him leaving, but the media can't keep these damn things secret so it won't affect our team, that right there is why were down in the series. (The players loosing respect for LB for leaving the team; because they knew damn well he was going to leave anyways)

_________________

Michael Huff for DROY

May 31st, 2005, 7:28 pm

Yorick

ST Coordinator – Joe Marciano

Joined: March 22nd, 2005, 8:42 pmPosts: 3811

Good points Alpha. I especially agree about the lousy GM comment. In that way having in the division may be a boon.

If any one gets a chance pick up the Free Press' book on last year's season. There is a great article on LB's wandering ways in there.